Braking and locking mechanism



Jan. 11, L. F. MORONEY 2,359,232

BRAKING AND LOCKING MECHANISM .Filed March 5, 1941 INVENTOR 59 Laurence Francis Moroney Patented Jan. 11, 1944 BRAKING AND LOCKING MECHANISM Laurence Francis Moroney, Moonee Ponds, near Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Application March 5, 1941, Serial No. 381,865 In Australia March 8, 1940 Claims. (01.192-8) This invention relates to improved mechanism adaptable for braking aand locking purposes with power transmission gearing, self-starter mecha nism of motor vehicles, clutch mechanisms, winding and hauling gear, and locking systems inclusive of those provided for sliding windows and like elements.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a braking and locking mechanism which is of compact and durable construction, is positive and eflicient in operation, and is adapted for economic production by die-casting or other mass production methods.

When the invention is applied as a braking and/or locking system to a shaft and is required to operate in both directions of rotation, the

- shaft is formed in two co-axially aligned parts hereinafter termed the driving shaft and the driven shaft. The mechanism comprises a cyiindrical casing having means whereby it is se-' cured concentrically about the adjacent ends of said shafts. Fixed on the driven shaft is a rotor revoluble within the casing and having detents engageable with the inner surface of the casing. An abutment member is formed on the rotor, and

' a cam or lever is fixed on the driving shaft. The

components are so designed and arranged that when rotary motion is imparted to the driving shaft in either direction, the cam or lever actuates the detents so as to release them from en- I gagement with the casing and makes a driving connection through one or both of said detents with an abutment member on the rotor whereby the driving shaft and the driven shaft are rotated unisonally. ,Upon cessation of the motion of the driving shaft, the detents are auto- ;matically returned from their released positions into locking engagement with the inner surface of the casing.

V In order that the invention will be clearly understood reference is made to the accompanying drawing wherein:

7 Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are views in front elevation, in rear elevation and in side elevation, respectively,

illustrating a representative form of the improved mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 in'Fig.. 3 showing the locking pawls of the rotor in engagement with the casing.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the casing of th mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section of the rotor.

Fig. 8 is a section similar to Fig. 4, but illustrating the pawls released from the casing.

Figs. 9 and 10 are front elevational views of a modified form of the mechanism and wherein the locking pawls are'shown in engaged and in disengaged positions.

Fig. 11 is a front elevational view illustrating another modified form of the mechanism.

Referring initially to Figs. 1 to 8 of this drawing, 2 indicates a mounting plate to whicha casing 3 is secured by bolts passed through countersunk holes 4 in an attachment flange 5 of said casing. The casing has in a central position a bearing boss 6 and it is provided on its inner surface with circumferential serrations or teeth I and a smooth internal bearing surface 8 of greater diameter than that of the serrated or toothed portion.

A rotor 9 is fixed on the inner end of a driven shaft [0 and is revoluble within the smooth portion 8 of the casing. The rotor has on its inner -which studs intersects at right angles the diametral line between said abutments H and I4. Pivoted on the studs iii are pawls I1 and I8 each of which has on its outer side teeth 19 adapted for engagement with the serrations or teeth 1 formed on the inner surface of the easing 3. Eachpawl has its inner side shaped to provide a flat bearing surface 20 for an end of the compression spring I3, a curved cam surface 2| for the purpose to be hereinafter explained, and a flat surface 22 to impinge against the abutment l4 of the rotor.

Journaledin the bearing boss 6 of the-casing 3 in co-axial alignment with the driven shaft I 0 is the driving shaft 23 which has its inner'end 24 of reduced diameter and seated in .theaaxial recess 15 of the rotor. Rigidly fitted on, or

cam 25 which is contoured to fit closely. between the cam surfaces 2| of the pawls I! and'1'8'as is seen in Fig. 4. The cam 25 is inoperativewhen no rotational force is exerted on it relative to the rotor 9. Consequently, the spring [3 which presses against the flat surfaces 20 of the pawls l1 and I8 forces the teeth IQ of said pawls into engagement with the serrations or teeth I of'the casing 3 wherebythe rotor is locked against rotational movement relative to said casing as :is shown in Fig. 4. When the driving shaft 23 with the. cam .2

are initially rotated in clockwise direction, the cam acting simultaneously upon the curved surfaces 21 of the pawls l! and I8 imparts pivotal movement to said pawls about the studs it against the pressure of the spring l3 and withdraws the teeth I9 of said pawls from locking engagement with the casing teeth or serrations 'l as shown in Fig. 8. Upon continued rotation of the driving shaft, the cam 25 acting through the pawls H and IS, the studs 16 and the abutment I I exerts rotational force upon the rotor 9. When rotational force exerted on the rotor ceases, the spring l3 pressing outwardly uponthe fiat .surfaces 29 of the pawls imparts pivotal movement to said pawls whereby their teeth l9 areforced into engagement with the internal serrations or teeth I of the casing 3 as shown in 4. .Should rotational force be then applied to the driven shaft H] in an attempt to turn the rotor 9 in clockwise direction against the action of the lock, the force that is exerted by said .rotor through the pivot 16 of the pawl .llforces the teeth IQ of that pawl :more firmly into locking engagement with the serrations or teeth 1.

When the driving shaft 23isrotated in anticlockwise direction to rotate the driven shaft in in corresponding direction, the'cam'25 acts simultaneously upon the curved surfaces of the 'pawls H and l8'causing said pawls to pivot about the studs l-B againstithe pressure of the spring l3 and withdraw .the teeth l9 from looking engage- :mentwith the casing serrations or teeth I whereupon the rotor9 is free to rotate in anti-clockwise direction. Upon the continued rotation of the driving shaft in anti-clockwise direction, the cam 25 acting through the pawls l8 and lL-thestuds Hizand theabutment l4 exerts rotational force in anti-clockwise direction on the rotor 9 and thus rotates the driven shaft l0. Upon cessation of this driving'force, 'the'teeth l9 of the pawls 'are immediatelyforced into. locking engagement with the casing serrations'or teeth 1 'by action of the spring 43. Any endeavour which may then be portion :21, andIit has tworigidlyfixed arms 39,

each li'aving at'its outer end a wedging member 3|. Two detents 32 and 33 are positioned on opposite :sides of the rotor embossment, and .they arezrecessed at '34 to'the'same degree'as'the said recess12'l "to accommodatethe outer ends of the 'arms33'll. Thedetents 32 3116.33 are eachformed havingsat its forward end-a'curvelol wedge part 35 and'atri'ts rear'end a tooth 36 and a wedge face '31- to1'co-act with 'thewedge :mem'ber 3| of :the relative -arm 3'9. Helical compressionspring-s 33 are housedin 'holes provided .in theshoulders 28.

The rotor 9'with1th'e detents 32-33 and arms 39 is :rotatably housed'withina casing 3 constructed as hereinbefore described 'anda's illustrated particularly in Fig. 6.

T When rotary motion in anti-clockwise directi'onis "initially imparted'to the driving shaft 23, the wedge 3! acts on the wedge face'3'! :of the detent 32. This action combined with'the rearward pressure that .is:exent'ed by'therrelative arm 39 on the detent 32 causes the withdrawal of the latter from engagement with the casing serrations 1. Upon continued rotation of the driving shaft, the pressure exerted by the arms 30 against the walls of the embossment recess 21 causes the rotor 9 to rotate within the casing 3, the detent 32 being held inoperative by an arm 38 and the other detent .33 being free to follow the rotor in its rotary "movement. Upon cessation of rotary movement of the driving shaft, the springs 38 immediately force the detents 32 and 33 outwardly so that their wedge parts 35 engage the casing serrations TI. iIf.an attempt should now be made to further turn the rotor in anti-clockwise direction, an angular shoulder 29 of the rotor embossment 28 will press upon the detent 32, causing it to pivot about its:forward end and thereby force the tooth 36 into secure locking engagement with the casing serrations. At the same time, the pressure of the embossment 26 of the rotor upon the wedge part 35 will prevent slipor displacement of the tooth 23.6:ofthe detent.32. .Should an attempt be made .to turn the .rotor'in clockwise direction, the detent 33 will be similarly actuated'so that its tooth 36 is forced into locking engagement with the casing serrations.

The modified construction illustrated byFig. 11 provides a braking or locking system which will permit rotation of a driven shaft in one direction and prevent its rotation in the opposite direction. In this form of my invention, the rotor 9 rigidly fitted on the driven shaft ID has on its inner surface an embossment 26 which is substantially circular in shape but has two peripheral right-angled recesses 39 providing shoulders 28. Each of said recesses 39 accommodates a wedge 39 of approximately semi-segmental shape having serrations l'l onits outer face and acted upon by a helical compression spring 38that is fitted into a socket formed in the relative shoulder 28. A recess 2111s formed diametrically across the rotorembossment 25, and the faces of the wedges 49 are correspondingly'recessed at .34.

Secured .to the driving shaft 23 is a lever 42 whichis fitted within the recess 21 of the rotor embossment 26 and is capable of slight rotational movement relative to said rotor. The opposite ends .ofthe lever '42 engage the recesses-34 formed in .thezfaces of the wedges 40, The rotor 9 with the wedges '40 and the lever '42 are rotatably housed within 'a casing 3 of construction similar to that illustrated in Fig. 6, except that serrations are formed circumferentially on the inner surface of said casing in lieu of the teeth which are illustrated in that View.

Upon rotation of the driving shaft 23 in anticlockwise direction, the lever 42 acts upon the wedges 40 to'press them against the shoulders 28 and thus withdraws both of said wedges from engagement with the casing serrations I to'thereby permit rotation of the rotor. Upon cessation of rotary movement of the driving shaft, the wedges are forced outwardly by their springs 38 into engagement with the casing serrations to thereby prevent rotation of the driven shaft in anti-clockwise direction. The driven shaft, however, is free to rotate freely in clockwise direction owing tothe pressure exerted uponthe wedges ID by the rotor being applied at the back of said wedgesby the shoulders 28 and not at the wedge points as would be the case if an attempt were made to force the rotor in anti-clockwise direction. The shoulders'28 pressing upon said wedges cause them to :slip and :follow the rotor in its rotarymovement,

What I do claim is:

1. An improved braking and locking mechanism for the purposes specified comprising a driving shaft, a cylindrical casing provided with means for securing it co-axially about said shaft, a rotor co-axially and rotatably mounted within said casing, a wedge accommodated Within a recess formed in said rotor, which wedge is spring actuated toward a position locking said rotor against rotative movement relative to said casing, and a lever, mounted on said shaft and engaging said wedge, whereby independent rotation of said rotor is restrained and rotation thereof in unison with said driving shaft is tolerated.

2. An improved braking and locking mechanism for the purposes specified comprising, a cylindrical casing having internal teeth or serrations and means for securing it co-axially about a driving shaft, a rotor co-axial with the driving shaft rotatable within said casing, a diametrically recessed embossment on said rotor, shouldered portions formed oppositely on said embossment, spring-actuated detents on opposite sides of said embossment adapted for locking engagement with the casing teeth or serrations, and a lever fixed and having arms projecting on opposite sides of said driving shaft, said lever being adapted upon rotation of said driving shaft in either direction to withdraw said detents from looking engagement with said casing teeth or serrations whereby said rotor can rotate relatively to said casing.

3. An improved braking and locking mechanism for the purposes specified according to claim 2, wherein the detents have wedgeparts at their forward ends and wedge surfaces near their rearward ends and wherein the lever arms have wedge members to co-act with the wedge surfaces of said detents, ubstantially as described.

4. An improved braking and locking mechanism for the purposes specified comprising, a cylindrical casing having internal serrations and means for securing it co-axially about a driving shaft, a rotor co-a-xially and rotatably mounted within said casing, springactuated wedges accommodated within recesse formed in the surface of said rotor and adapted for locking engagement with the casing serrations, a diametral recess in said rotor, corresponding recesses in said wedges, and a lever having oppositely extending arms fixed on the driving shaft and accommodated within the diametral recess of the rotor and the wedge recesses, said lever being adaptedupon the rotation of the driving shaft in one direction to withdraw said Wedges from I the casing serrations to permit unidirectional rotation of said rotor within said casing.

5. An improved braking and locking mechanism for the purposes specified comprising, a cylindrical casing having internal serrations and means for securing it co-axially about a driving shaft, a rotor co-axially and rotatably mounted within said casing, spring-actuated wedges accommodated within recesses formed in the surface of said rotor and adapted for locking engagement with the casing serrations, a diametral recess in said rotor, corresponding recesses in said wedges, and a, lever having oppositely extending arms fixed on the driving shaft and accommodated within the diametral recess of the rotor and the wedge recesses, said wedges being so disposed as to engage the arms of said lever, whereby said lever is operative, upon rotative movement of said driving shaft, to release said wedges from said casing teeth, permitting rotation of said rotor relatively to said casing.

LAURENCE FRANCIS MORONEY. 

